Bodakdev residents greet new flyover with bandh, dharna
Residents of the area oppose proposal stating heavy traffic on SG Road; also fear loss of privacy and peace.
When the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) proposed construction of a new flyover from Judges Bungalow road to Sindhu Bhavan in the new west zone, it had expected to receive a pat on the back from citizens.
After all, if things go as per the plan, issues of traffic congestion in the area will soon be a thing of the past. However, the residents have surprised the civic body with their decision to protest this construction.
The residents of Judges Bungalow area and Bodakdev observed a bandh on Wednesday and held a dharna on Judges Bungalow road to protest the construction of the new flyover. Around 200-250 residents sat on the dharna staged on Wednesday. While the streets of Bodakdev area wore a deserted look, shops had downed their shutters. The residents recently formed an association, 'Bodakdev Nagrik Sangharsh Samiti (BNSS)', under the aegis of which they will protest the construction of the proposed flyover.
Speaking to DNA, the residents said that one of the important demands of the protest was change in direction of the flyover.
"While the civic body claims that the new flyover will solve the issue of traffic congestion from Judges Bungalow towards Bopal, in reality traffic is more on SG highway towards Sindhu Bhavan and not Bodakdev. So we want the bridge to start from SG Highway and not disturb the residents of Bodakdev," stated Deven Verma, resident of Bodakdev and member of BNSS. He further said that the purpose of the flyover would not be solved if the current plan was followed.
If this flyover is constructed, it will hamper the privacy in that area, rue residents.
"Construction of the flyover is bound to disturb the residents in the area, who are used to peaceful life here," said Arun Patel, one of the residents in Judges Bungalow area and a member of BNSS. The samiti had placed banners at different areas urging the public to join the cause. It will also submit a memorandum to the mayor, standing committee chairman and municipal commissioner, opposing the flyover on Saturday.